“I do feel a difference,” Novak Djokovic compares his level in Dubai as he looks to leave his injury woes behind
Novak Djokovic is hopeful to increase his level after Tomas Machac almost gave him a scare in first round of ATP Dubai Open.
Follow Us
Novak Djokovic (Image Credit: Stadium Astro)
Novak Djokovic, who was regaling after his victory at the Australian Open 2023 and breaking Steffi Graf’s long standing record of spending most weeks as World No.1 in the rankings got a reality check in Dubai, UAE. The Serbian had to wrestle and fight his way to win the first-round match against Tomas Machac in the ongoing ATP Dubai Tennis Championships.
Although, the scoreline read 6-3, 3-6, 7(7)-6(1) in favor of Novak Djokovic, it does not tell the whole story. The Serbian had to struggle against the Czech player as he is returning after a long hiatus due to an injury.
“I wasn’t thinking about my leg today, which is great. It was not bothering me at all. That’s great news, But [an] injury is an injury. There’s a muscle memory and it plays with your mind a little bit, it plays with your biomechanics, with your preparation for the shot, execution for the shot. I do feel a difference definitely comparing to the level that I had and the kind of execution I had in Australia,” he said in an interview given after the match.
The Serbian made a steady return to the tour as he played his first match after winning his career’s tenth Australian Open men’s singles title. In both Adelaide and Melbourne, he was nursing his injuries; however, it did not stop him in winning both the tournaments. Meanwhile, in Dubai, he still has to work his way out. Although, he believes he needs time to get back to winning ways.
“Physically you can always be better. I demand the highest of standards, levels, and quality of tennis and preparation that I can possibly get. I did struggle with injury for several weeks and it took me a little bit of time to get used to holding the racquet. I haven’t played much tennis coming into Dubai, so I’m hoping that as the tournament progresses, I can raise the level of tennis as well,” he continued.
Keep Exploring: “Rivalry is where you hate the person,” Coco Gauff speaks on developing a rivalry with Emma Raducanu in the future
Novak Djokovic comments on how Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal helped shape his career
The Serbian is an intrinsic and essential member of The Big Three. With Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic not only dominated but redefined the modern sport. For many, they are the greatest players who have played this game. However, there is also a small but influential group in the media which believes that Novak Djokovic is a culmination of the talents of the other two.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion too, gives a little bit of credit for his successes in all these years to both the Spaniard and the Swiss legend.
“I am aware that I am in the final stretch of my career, but I think I have the advantage of having learned a lot from my colleagues in the Big 3. I watched how Federer managed his long career and I was inspired by Nadal and his way of never giving up,” he said in a recent interview.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are currently chasing the dream of winning their 23rd Grand Slam singles title.
In case you missed it:
Serena Williams turns heads in a breathtaking pink satin gown at the Creed III LA premiere
Stay Updated!
Abhar Indorkar
(451 Articles Published)